Mandevilla plant named ‘MAN222902’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘MAN222902’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and vining plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; relatively small glossy dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and dark red-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MAN222902’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MAN222902’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering Mandevilla plants with large attractive flowers and good container performance.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination in De Kwakel, The Netherlands during the summer of 2013 of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Lannevada’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,122, as the female, or seed parent with Mandevilla sanderi ‘Rio Red’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands during the summer of 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, since the summer of 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MAN222902’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MAN222902’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and vining plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Relatively small glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Dark red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Lannevada’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Lannevada’ in flower color as plants of the new Mandevilla have darker red-colored flowers than plants of ‘Lannevada’.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Rio Red’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Rio Red’ in leaf size as plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller leaves than plants of ‘Rio Red’.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘MAN216902’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,848. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘MAN216902’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more vigorous and taller         than plants of ‘MAN216902’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have thicker stems than plants         of ‘MAN216902’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants         of ‘MAN216902’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla are darker red in         color than flowers of plants of ‘MAN216902’.     -   5. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger sepals than plants         of ‘MAN216902’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of typical flowering plant of ‘MAN222902’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is close-up view of a typical flower of ‘MAN222902’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched one time four weeks after planting and were ten months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘MAN222902’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Mandevilla sanderi ‘Lannevada’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,122.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Mandevilla sanderi ‘Rio Red’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 27 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous to slightly             fleshy; typically brownish white in color, actual color of             the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to spreading and vining             plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth             habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 45 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Moderate             branching habit with about two primary branches, each             primary branch with about two secondary lateral branches;             pinching enhances lateral branch development. Length,             primary branches: About 10 cm to 15 cm. Diameter, primary             branches: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm to             2.5 cm. Strength: Finn. Aspect: Upright to about 45° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy             becoming woody and matte with development. Color,             developing: Close to 144B. Color, developed: Close to 144A;             when woody, close to N199A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; relatively small.         -   Length, fully expanded leaves.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Width, fully expanded leaves.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; leathery; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137D.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Full             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation,             close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary racemes; flowers star-shaped and face             upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about five             to six flowers per inflorescence and during the flowering             season, about 40 to 45 flowers develop per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             the spring until the late summer in The Netherlands; early             flowering habit, plants begin flowering about seven months             after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About eight to ten days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 15 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm to             2 cm. Shape: Elongated, spindle-shaped. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Distally, close to             185A and proximally, close to N144B.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 10 cm to 11 cm. Length: About             5 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Tube length:             About 3 cm. Tube diameter, proximally: About 5 mm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl; proximal portion of the petals are fused into             a tube; distal free portions slightly imbricate. Petal             length: About 4.5 cm. Petal width: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm.             Petal shape and appearance: Ovate to triangular,             asymmetrical. Petal apex: Acute to cuspidate. Petal margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat             and tube texture: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color:             Petal, when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 53A; venation, close to 53A; color does not change with             subsequent development. Petal, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 46A; venation, close to 53A;             color does not change with subsequent development. Throat:             Close to N25A; venation, close to N25A. Tube: Close to             N144D; venation, close to N144D.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl; calyx, star-shaped. Length: About 1 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Sepal length: About 8 mm. Sepal width:             About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Subulate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Sepal color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 30° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color:             Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Anther size:             About 4 mm by 10 mm. Anther shape: Elongate. Anther color:             Close to 14D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close             to 14D. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length:             About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Style color: Close to 150B. Stigma             diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma             color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 144B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development have             not been observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Mandevilla     have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about     45° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘MAN222902’ as illustrated and described. 